Staff Picks

Courting Controversy with Shakespeare in the Park

During his lifetime, William Shakespeare was one of Britain’s most popular playwrights, whose work resounded with major concerns of the era, social, political, and economic. Four centuries later, his work continues to generate not only adulation, but also controversy, as evinced by Shakespeare in the Park’s recent production of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, in which the titular dictator bore a striking resemblance to the current President of the United States. Though Caesar’s run has ended, you can still catch free performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream from July 11 through August 13 at Central Park’s open-air theater, The Delacorte. And don’t let the (lack of) ticket price fool you. The Shakespeare in the Park series has been a staple of New York in the summer since 1962, and it has featured some of biggest names in the business, including Denzel Washington, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Meryl Streep. Shows usually start at 8 P.M. Tuesdays through Sundays. For more information on how to get tickets, go to Shakespeare in the Park’s website here.